SRC - exam only?

[Deej]

Hi All,

I want to obtain the SRC but I was thinking of getting a book (something like the RYA's VHF Handbook) and then doing the exam on its own rather than taking a course.

Is this a realistic option? I have no previous VHF experience/certification.

Thanks,
Dave.

 

[NormanS]

That's what I did 30 years ago, but a few years back, I did attend a class and updated to DSC. The day long class could have been covered in half an hour.

 

[Tranona]

Not sure you will find many exam only opportunities. The whole thing takes a day of tuition and exam and is "easier" if you read up beforehand. If you are starting from scratch it is worth it, although as Norman S says if you are just doing the upgrade there is not much in it if you already have the older qualification. (Nor anywhere near as thorough as the original - perhaps reflecting the decline in importance and relevance of VHF for many people).

 

[VicS]

Like NormanS I bought the books ( just the RYA booklets G22 and G26 in fact ) mugged up and took the old non DSC exam. A walk in the park as far as I was concerned.
I dont see why the current situation should be any different. There is a better book now by some bloke called Bartlett who posts on here now and then.

Must admit though I have not upgraded to DSC and almost certainly won't now.

My understanding (probably wrong as usual ) is that the RYA require centres doing courses to also accept exam only candidates.

 

[Vara]

It is quite difficult to arrange an exam only, In fact I have given up trying.

I have put a sticker on my DSC set stating it is for monitoring and distress/emergency use only, and of course only use my HH VHF (covered by my old certificate) for talking to anyone.

The day long courses are an expensive nonsense, the only defence for them I have heard is from teaching establishments.

If an exam is needed it could be done over the phone for very few pennys.

 

[BrendanS]

I found an instructor/examiner, who asked me some searching questions, and suggested I came to his yacht one evening. I had to watch the obligatory training videos, and he went through the syllabus satisfying himself I actually did have the knowledge. Took a few hours, but better than the full training course, as I did already have the knowledge. Worth phoning around and seeing what they will offer.

 

[Deej]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll start with the book and see where it gets me.

Dave

 

[VicS]

In addition to the VHF Handbook I think you will need the RYA Booklet G26 which gives full details of the syllabus, the practical test and the exam.

 

[Solitaire]

L
My understanding (probably wrong as usual ) is that the RYA require centres doing courses to also accept exam only candidates.

Get enough people together and I'll run the practical assessment and exam. The written exam is only a small part of the day and has a maximum completion time of 30 mins.

 

[Kawasaki]

Get enough people together and I'll run the practical assessment and exam. The written exam is only a small part of the day and has a maximum completion time of 30 mins.

Blimey peeps
What's all the fuss about?
Do the course
It's just a day
It's only a few quid compared to what we spend on boats
You will meet new peeps
Talk 'rollocks' as we do , good innit, all about boats and stuff
Probably pick up stuff you didn't know about etc etc.
Off of others as well as the 'Instuctor' .
Crikey
If it is Solitaire
You will learn new techniques about bouncing off of Taxis etc etc

 

[BrendanS]

if you do all the courses that you'd like, it becomes very expensive. Sometimes you take cheap options to the same result. Not everyone has a huge boating budget, and it's better that responsible people who want to ensure they are doing things the correct way, and have done the background work, have a cheap option to the licence or qualification

 

[Kawasaki]

if you do all the courses that you'd like, it becomes very expensive. Sometimes you take cheap options to the same result. Not everyone has a huge boating budget,

No, can't let this one go!
VHF course, circa 75 quid
'Booklet' as per OP
£12.99
So 60 odd quid ish is gonna save the game ref boating expenses?

Three bits of kit I would want on a boat
Compass, to navigate
Radar, case it gets murkey
VHF case I need help

So we go afloat
Nice cheap boat bought on a budgett
Let's say £5000 inc trailer.
Cheap, no mooring cost kept at home.
Oh yeh £50 to launch inc launch fee and petrol to get to launch site
Only got a little eng as auxilliary. , so no cost hardly there cos we sail mostly.
Or we just do a bit of fishing with a 15hp outboard.Budgett boating.
Fishing, so we just upgraded the fish finder £120
Sailing, so we boat a new plotter £200.
Never done any courses cos me mate showed me everything , plus the yacht club/ fishing club guys have given me loads of tips and advice.
Nowt wrong with that, I did the same years ago
But saving 60 quid ish by not taking a VHF course?
When we look at the cost of boating at even the lowest level.

Oh yeh.
To save some more money for our budgett boating
Don't replace the gas cylinder on the lifejacket regularly
Blimey, it's 15 quid every two years or so!

Anyway, who needs a VHF
Got me mobile phone, great piece of kit, it's an I Pod, takes piccies and everything, only 30 quid a month on contract.
Bit iffy reception 4 miles out though.
Never mind, got a VHF
Now how long do I press the red button for?
Do I need to make a call on the radio anyway?
'Mayday Mayday ,anybody there'
'Help me radio bleepin and crackley, should be ok cost me 300 quid over rodger, copy'?
'Hello hello, I,m sinking, come back, over Help'!


.

 

[Solitaire]

Without getting into any protracted discussions that will only lead to personal conflict I will stick to the facts.

It is possible to do a practical assessment and the exam only - no instruction, no discussion just turn up be given a set of tasks to perform and then do the written exam. Cost including the issue of the certificate by the RYA £70.00 and payable to the RYA not the examiner/assessor.

The conversion exam is £45 again including the issue of the certificate. You must bring with you the original licence!

As I have said, I will run such sessions as long as there are a minimum number of people - 6 in our case. It will take around 2 hours. No instruction, simply turn up, sit down do some practical exercises on a real radio - the only thing they don't do is transmit - and then do the exam. There is a minimum pass mark of 14/22, but as there are two parts to the exam, it is requirement that on part 1 the candidate gets a minimum mark of 8/11. If this is not achieved then no matter what the mark on part 2, a multi choice option, then the candidate will fail.

Simples!



Alternatively you do the full course over a day - actually a minimum of 8 hours is the official time, and add 15 mins. per person over 8 - get all instruction and pretty much guaranteed to get the operators certificate and pay £30 for the issue of the certificate plus the whatever the school charges. Our charge is £85 + vat.


NOTE: All schools offering VHF courses must now have at least one set of radios - a set is 2 converted units, most schools use ICOM, but there are Standard Horizon, Navman and Raymarine. We use ICOM and we also have Silva S10's and an S15'. The radio does not make any difference however, ICOM do have a slightly different DSC Distress alert operation.

In addition to buying the sets, the school also has to have an annual licence issued by Ofcom which costs £50 - so before people starting arguing the cost just consider the costs the school has to put on the course and we have to pay an instructor.

 

[Doug_Stormforce]

While I advise generally advise people to take the course for £75, I accept that some want just the exam.

Direct exam with us is just under 1 hour, no minimum number of candidates, just phone us up and book a time that suits you.

Simple

 

[chanelyacht]

OK, spending my life sat on the other end of your VHF, I'm amazed that there really is such a fuss about this issue.
VHFs have come down massively in price over the last few years, making a lot of them cheaper than the course itself. What on earth is the problem with ploughing some of that saving back into learning how to use the thing properly?
Most instructors have a wealth of experience behind them - quite a few are lifeboat crew or similar, and will add their experiences into what they teach, which will give you a far wider knowledge base than simply following the syllabus from a book. Add to that the ability to exchange ideas and knowledge with other boaters, and the value becomes far greater.
Yes, just picking up the radio and shouting "we're sinking" will get you a response, but what is vastly obvious is the huge lack of knowledge about how to use VHF out there - I gave up broadcasting "seelonce Mayday" on Saturday after the 15th interruption while we were working an incident.
Less that £100 seems to me a pretty cheap way of having an interesting day and learning a few tips which could save your life.